Full text of The Employment Situation : May 1979

The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.

News

Bureau of Labor Statistics

United States
Department
of Labor
Washington, D.C. 20212

million higher than a year earlier.

pronounced (1.5 million); adult men posted an employment advance of 1.0 million.

John Bregger

(202)

Kathryn Hoyle

(202)

523-1944
523-1371
523-1913

USDL 79-391
TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS RELEASE IS
EMBARGOED UNTIL 9:00 A.M. (EDT), FRIDAY,
JUNE 1, 1979

Employment

among teenagers was down slightly over the year, in part a reflection of their declining population.

Contact:

Over-the-year job gains among adult women were especially

(See table A-l.)

The civilian labor force also advanced very slightly over the month to 102.2 million and
was 2.2 million higher than May 1978. At 63.4 percent, the civilian labor force participation
rate was about unchanged from its April level but was down 0.5 percentage point from the

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION:

MAY 1979

February-March all-time high.

Participation was up over the year, however, with adult women

accounting for all of the increase.

(See table A-l.)

Employment rose slightly in May, and unemployment was unchanged, the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the U. S. Department of Labor reported today.

The Nation's unemployment rate was

Tabic A . Major indicators of labor market activity, seasonally adjusted

5.8 percent, the same as in April; it has been in the 5.7 to 5.9 percent range for the past 10
months.

Quarterly averages

I

Total employment—as measured by the monthly survey of households—edged up by 140,000 in
May following a very sharp decline in April. At 96.3 million, total employment was 2.4 million

II

!
III

99,263
93,084
6,179
58,741
914

Unemployment

Nonfarm payroll employment—as measured by the monthly survey of establishments—rose by
Discouraged workers

100,127 100,753
94,099
94,726
6,028
6,027
58,478
58,482
851
853

170,000 in May to 88.4 million. Nonfarm payroll jobs have advanced by 2.9 million since May
Average weekly hours rebounded somewhat from depressed April levels but were still

. Both the unemployment rate, 5.8 percent, and the number of unemployed, 5.9 million, were
the same as in April, and have remained near the levels which have prevailed since August 1978.

I

1979
Mar.

Apr.

May

101,524 102,475 102,714 102,111
95,616
96,174
96,596
9.6,842
5,908
5,937
5,878
5,871
58,398
58,095
58,815
58,105
760
724
N.A.
N.A.

102,247
96,318
5,929
58,935
N.A.

Percent of MOOT force
Unemployment rates:
All workers

6.2
4.5
6.0
16.9

considerably below March and year-earlier levels.
Unemployment

IV

1979

Thousands of parsons

HOUSEHOLD DATA

higher than a year ago.

1978.

MoetMydete

1978

Selected ctttflOfiM

Teenagers
White
Black and other
Full-time workers

|

5.4 J
12.4
5.7

6.0
4.2
6.1
16.1
5.2
12.1|
5.5,

6.0
4.1
6.1
16.1
5.2
11.7 j
5.51

5.8
4.0
5.8
16.3
5.1
11.5
5.2

5.7
4.0
5.7
15.8
5.0
11.4]
5.2

5.7
4.0
5.7
15.5
5.0
11.2|
5.1)

5.8
4.0
5.7
16.5
4.9
11.8
5.3

5.8
3.9
5.8
16.8
5.0
11.6
5.2

Thousands of jobs

The May jobless rates for adult men (3.9 percent), adult women (5.8 percent), and teenagers
(16.8 percent) were little changed from April and also have not shown much variation since last
August.

ESTABLISHMENT OATA
Nonfarm payroll employment . . .
Goods-producing industries...
Service-producing industries . .

Unemployment rates for whites (5.0 percent) and blacks (11.6 percent) and most other

84,262
24,766
59,495

85,677
25,376
60,302

86,115
25,478
60,637

86,963
25,857
61,106

87,868
26,241
61,628

88,263
26,412
61,851

88,267p
26,369p
61,898p

88,438p
26,401p
62,037p

35.9
40.8
3.8

35.4p

35.6p
40.2p
3.4p

Hours of work

worker groups were also at or near the levels which have been in evidence over the past several
months.

35.7

(See tables A-l and A-2.)

Manufacturing
Manufacturing overtime

Total Employment and the Labor Force
Total employment advanced very slightly in May (140,000) to 96.3 million.

Because of the

large employment decline in April, the May level was still more than half a million below that
of March. Because of strong growth in the months prior to April, employment in May was 2.4




Average weekly hours:
40.2

36.0
40.6

L_±i _±3

35.8
40.4
3.5

35.9
40.6
3.7

35.8
40.7
3.8

39.2p
2.8p

- 4 - 3 -

With the combination of small increases in both employment and weekly hours, the index of

Industry Payroll Employment
aggregate weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers rose 1.0 percent in May but
Nonfarm payroll employment, at 88.4 million, rose by 170,000 in May following no change in
remained about the same magnitude below March's record high of 124.7 (1967-100).
April.

The index was

The small increase since March was in sharp contrast to the situation during the
3 percent above the year-ago level.

(See table B-5.)

previous 6 months when employment grew by an average of 350,000 a month.
Hourly and Weekly Earnings
Among the major industry divisions, only three—construction, transportation and public
Average hourly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural
utilities, and wholesale and retail trade—showed sizeable over-the-month job gains. A 65,000
payrolls rose 0.7 percent from April and were 8.2 percent above the May 1978 level (seasonally
increase in construction employment was mostly in highway and street construction, probably due
adjusted).

Average weekly earnings were up 1.2 percent over the month and have risen 7.3

to heightened road repair activity resulting from severe winter storms. Despite a May
percent from the year-earlier level.
employment growth of 50,000 stemming from the settlement of the Teamsters strike, transportation
Before adjustment for seasonality, average hourly earnings rose 5 cents to $6.07, 45 cents
and public utilities failed to recoup completely the losses experienced during the previous
above May 1978. Average weekly earnings were $215.49, $4.19 above April and $14.86 higher than
month, as United Airlines employees remained on strike during the reference period.

Trade rose
a year earlier.

(See table B-3.)

by 45,000 over the month, continuing the long-term uptrend in the industry.
The Hourly Earnings Index
Manufacturing employment in both the durable and nondurable goods industries edged down for
The Hourly Earnings Index—earnings adjusted for overtime in manufacturing, seasonality,
the second month in a row, returning to February levels. In all, job gains took place in only
and the effects of changes in the proportion of workers in high-wage and low-wage
48 percent of the 172 industries comprising the BLS diffusion index.

(See tables B-l and B-6.)
industries—was 227.1 (1967-100) in May, 0.1 percent higher than in April.

The ind,ex was 7.6

Hours
percent above May a year ago. During the 12-month period ended in April, the Hourly Earnings
The average workweek of production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural
Index in dollars of constant purchasing power declined 2.5 percent.
payrolls was 35.6 hours in May, up 0.2 hour from the depressed April level, which had been
affected by holidays, strike activity, and, perhaps, by unusual weather conditions. The April
decline of half an hour was not matched by the May increase, and, among the major
goods-producing industry divisions, only the mining workweek was as high as its March level.
Construction (down 0.9 hour from March), durable goods manufacturing (down 0.7 hour), and
nondurable goods (down 0.5 hour) did not rebound completely from their severe April decline in
hours. Overtime hours in manufacturing—3.4 in May—followed essentially the same pattern as
the regular workweek during the March-May period.
Among the service-producing industries, only transportation and public utilities showed a
workweek pattern similar to that of the goods-producing industries; hours were up 0.4 in May but
still were 0.5 below their March level. Average hours in the other service-producing industries
did not follow the same pattern over the past 2 months.




(See table B-2.)

(See table B-4.)

Explanatory Note
This release presents and analyzes statistics from
two major surveys. Data on labor force, total employment, and unemployment (A tables) are derived from
the Current Population Survey—a sample survey of
households which is conducted by the Bureau of the
Census for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Beginning in
September 1975, the sample was enlarged by 9,000
households in order to provide greater reliability for
smaller States and thus permit the publication of annual
statistics for all 50 States and the District of Columbia.
These supplementary households were added to the
47,000 national household sample in January 1978; thus
the sample now consists of about 56,000 households
selected to represent the U.S. civilian noninstitutional
population 16 years and over.
Statistics on nonagricultural payroll employment,
hours, and earnings (B tables) are collected by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with State
agencies, from payroll records of a sample of approximately 165,000 establishments. Unless otherwise indicated, data for both statistical series relate to the week
containing the 12th day of the specified month.
Comparability of household and payroll
employment statistics
Employment data from the household and payroll
surveys differ in several basic respects. The household
survey provides information on the labor force activity
of the entire civilian noninstitutional population, 16
years of age and over, without duplication. Each person
is classified as either employed, unemployed, or not in
the labor force. The household survey counts employed
persons in both agriculture and nonagricultural
industries and, in addition to wage and salary workers
(including private household workers), counts the selfemployed, unpaid family workers, and persons "with a
job but not at work" and not paid for the period absent.
The payroll survey relates only to paid wage and
salary employees (regardless of age) on the payrolls of
nonagricultural establishments. Persons who worked at
more than one job during the survey week or otherwise
appear on more than one payroll are counted more than
once in the establishment survey. Such persons are
counted only once in the household survey and are
classified in the job at which they worked the greatest
number of hours.
Unemployment
To be classified in the household survey as
unemployed an individual must: (1) Have been without a




job during the survey week; (2) have made specific
efforts to find employment sometime during the prior 4
weeks; and (3) be presently available for work. In
addition, persons on layoff and those waiting to begin a
new job (within 30 days), neither of whom must meet
the jobseeking requirements, are also classified as
unemployed. The unemployed total includes all persons
who satisfactorily meet the above criteria, regardless
of their eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits
or any kind of public assistance. The unemployment rate
represents the unemployed as a proportion of the
civilian labor force (the employed and unemployed
combined).
The Bureau regularly publishes a wide variety of
labor market measures. See, for example, the demographic, occupational, and industry detail in tables A-2
and A-3 of this release and the comprehensive
data package in Employment and Earnings each month.
A special grouping of seven unemployment measures is
set forth in table A-7. Identified by the symbols U-l
through U-7, these measures represent a range of
possible definitions of unemployment and of the labor
force—from the most restrictive (U-l) to the most
comprehensive (U-7). The official rate.of unemployment
appears as U-5.
Seasonal adjustment
Nearly all economic phenomena are affected to
some degree by seasonal variations. These are
recurring, predictable events which are repeated more
or less regularly each year—changes in weather, opening
and closing of schools, major holidays, industry production schedules, etc. The cumulative effects of these
events are often large. For example, on average over
the year, they explain about 95 percent of the monthto-month variance in the unemployment figures. Since
seasonal variations tend to be large relative to the
underlying cyclical trends, it is necessary to use
seasonally-adjusted data to interpret short-term
economic developments. At the beginning of each year,
seasonal adjustment factors for unemployment and
other labor force series are calculated for use during
the entire year, taking into account the prior year's
experience.
All seasonally-adjusted civilian labor force and
unemployment rate statistics, as well as the major
employment and unemployment estimates, are computed by aggregating independently adjusted series.
The official unemployment rate for all civilian workers
is derived by dividing the estimate for total unem-

ployment (the sum of four seasonally-adjusted age-sex
components) by the civilian, labor force (the sum of 12
seasonally-adjusted age-sex components).
For establishment data, the seasonally-adjusted
series for all employees, production workers, average
weekly hours, and average hourly earnings are adjusted
by aggregating the seasonally-adjusted data from the
respective component series. These data are also
revised annually, often in conjunction with benchmark
(comprehensive' counts of employment) adjustments.
(The most recent revision, of seasonally-adjusted data
was based on data through May 1978.)
Sampling variability
Both the household and establishment survey
statistics are subject to sampling error, which should be
taken into account in evaluating the levels of a series as
well as changes over time. Because the household
survey, is based upon a probability sample, the results
may differ from the figures that would be obtained if it
were possible to take a complete census using the same
questionnaires and procedures. The standard error is the
measure of sampling variability, that is, of the variation
that occurs by chance because a sample rather than the
entire population is surveyed. The chances are about 68
out of 100 that an estimate from the survey differs
from a figure that would be obtained through a
complete census by less than the standard error. Tables
A through H in the "Explanatory Notes** of Employment
and Earnings provide •approximations of the standard"
errors for unemployment and other labor force
categories. To obtain a 90-percent level of confidence,
the confidence interval generally used by BLS, the
errors should be multiplied by 1.6. The following
examples provide an indication of the magnitude of
sampling error: For a monthly change in total em-

ployment, the standard error is on the order of plus or
minus 182,000. Similarly, the standard error on a change
in total unemployment is approximately 115,000. The
standard error on a change in the national unemployment rate is 0.12 percentage point.
Although the relatively large size of the monthly
establishment survey assures a high degree of accuracy,
the estimates derived from it also may differ from the
figures obtained if a complete census using the same
schedules and procedures were possible. However, since
the estimating procedures utilize the previous month's
level as the base in computing the current month's level
of employment (link-relative technique), sampling and
response errors may accumulate over several months.
To remove this accumulated error, the employment
estimates
are
adjusted
to new benchmarks
(comprehensive counts of employment), usually on an
annual basis. In addition to taking account of sampling
and response errors, the benchmark revision adjusts the
estimates for changes in the industrial classification of
individual-establishments. Employment estimates are
currently projected from March 1977 levels.
One measure of the reliability of the employment
estimates for individual industries is the root-meansquare error (RMSE). The RMSE is the standard deviation adjusted for. the bias in estimates. If the bias is
small, the chances are about 68 out of 100 that an
estimate from the sample would differ from its benchmark by less than the RMSE. For total nonagricultural
employment, the RMSE is on the order of plus or minus
81,000. Measures of reliability (approximations of the
RMSE) for establishment-survey data and actual
amounts of revision due to benchmark adjustments are
provided in tables J.through O in the "Explanatory
liotes" of Employment and Earnings.

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-1. Employment status of taw i

HOUSEHOLD DATA
linstitutional

iNumbart in tl
NottaatanaByadpaaaal

May

Apr.

May

Bay

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

1978

1979

1979

1978

1979

1979

1979

1979

160,713
2,113
158,601
99,309
62.6
93,851
58.4
3,369
90,483
5,457
5.5
59,292

163,008
2,082
160,926
101,236
62.9
95,675
5 8.7
3,074
92,601
5,561
5.5
59,690

163,260
2,078
161,182
101,473
63.0
96,220
58.9
3,309
92,911
5,253
5-2
59,708

160,713
2,113
158,601
100,109
63.1
93,953
53.5
3,243
90,710
6,156
6.1
58,492

162,448
2,094
160,353
102,183
63.7
96^,30 0
59.3
3,232
93,068
5,883
5.8
58,170

162,633
2,094
160,539
102,527
63.9
96,647
59.4
3,311
93,335
5,881
5.7
58,012

162,909
2,09 0
160,819
102,7Hi
63.9
96,84 2
59.4
3,34 3
93,499
5,87 1
5.7
58,105

163,008
2,082
160,926
102,111
63.5
96,174
59.C
3,186
92,987
5,937
5.8
58,815

63,519
66,845
53,225
79.6
51,149
74.6
2,393
48,756
2,076
3.9
13,620

69,663
67,997
53,958
79.4
51,773
74.3
2,237
49,536
2,185
4.0
14,039

69,787
68,123
54,105
79.4
52,175
74.8
2,342
49,833
1,930
3.6
14,018

68,519
66,845
53,383
79.9
51,119
74.6
2,324
48,795
2,264
4.2
13,462

69,385
67,726
54,333
80.2
52,133
75.1
2,293
49,841
2,200
4.0
13,393

69,476
67,816
54,485
80.3
52,331
75.3
2,324
50,007
2,154
4.0
13,331

69,612
67,939
54,44 4
8 0. 1
52,26 4
75. 1
2,355
49,909
2 , 180
4.0
13,495

69,663
67,997
54,243
79.8
52,056
74.7
2,271
49,785
2,187
4.0
13,754

75,412
75,310
37,025
49.2
34,960
46.4
590
34,370
2,065
5.6
33,285

76,645
76,532
38,425
50.2
36,403
47.5
534
35,869
2,021
5.3
3 8 , 108

76,782
76,670
38,402
50.1
36,413
47.4
597
35,816
1,989
5.2
38,268

75,412
75,310
37,208
49.4
34,886
46.3
536
34,350
2,322
6.^
38,102

76,337
76,228
38,185
50.1
36,019
47.2
586
35,433'
2,166
5.7
38,043

76,440
76,332
38,429
50.3
36,252
47.4
608
35,644
2,177
5.7
37,903

76,589
76,476
38,64 2
5 0.5
36,44 0
47.6
613
35,827
2,20 1
5.7
37,83 4

76,645
76,532
38,345
50.1
36,165
47.2
580
35,584
2,180
5.7
38,187

16,782
16,446
9,059
55.1
7,742
46.1
385
7,356
1,317
14.5
7,387

16,700
16,397
8,853
54.0
7,499
44.9
303
7,195
1,355
15.3
7,543

16,692
16,389
8,966
54-7
7,632
45.7
370
7,262
1,334
14.9
7,423

16,782
16,446
9,518
57.9
7,948
47.4
383
7,565
1,5 70
16.5
6,926

16,725
16,400
9,665
58.9
8,148
4 8.7
354
7,794
1,517
15.7
6,735

16,717
16,391
9,613
58.6
8,064
48.2
380
7,684
1,549
16.1
6,778

16,709
16,404
9,62 8
58.7
8,138
48.7
375
7,76 3
1,490
15.5
6,776

16,700
16,397
S,523
58.1
7,953
47.6
335
7,618
1,570
16.5
6,874

141,026
139,317
87,567
62.9
83,446
59.2
4,120
4.7
51,750

142,773
141,123
89,195
63.2
84,997
59.5
4,198
4.7
51,928

142,978
141,331
89,456
63.3
85,482
59.8
3,974
4.4
51,875

1 4 1 ,,026
1 3 9 ,,317
88, 168
63.3
83,499
59 ,2
>69
5».3
51,149

142,351
140,683
90,093
64.0
85,543
60.1
4,550
5.1
50,590

142,493
140,825
90,395
64.2
85,941
60.3
4,453
4.9
50,430

142,720
141,063
90,415
64. 1
85,938
60.2
4,478
5.0
50,648

142,773
141,123
89,923
63.7
85,479
59.9
4,444
4.9
51,200

19,687
19,284
11,742
60.9
10,405
52.9
1,337
11.4
7,541

20,234
19,802
12,041
60.8
10,678
52.8
1,363
1" 1 . ,3
7,76 1

20,282
19,850
12,017
60.5
10,738
52.9
1,279
10.6
7,833

19,687
1 9 , 2 84
11,906
61.7
10,437
53.0
1,469
12-3
7,378

20,097
19,670
12,077
61.4
10,725
53.4
1,352
11.2
7,593

20,140
19,714
12,228
62.0
10,775
53.5
1,452
11.9
7,486

20,189
19,755
12,251
62.0
10,878
53.9
1,374
11.2
7,504

TOTAL
Total noninttitutional population1
Armad rorcat
Ovilian noninttitutional population1
Civilian labor forot
Participation rata
Empioyad
Employmant-population ratio*.
Agriculture
Nonagricultural industrial
Unamployad
Unamploymant rata
Not in labor forot
Man, 20 yaars and ovar
Total noninttitutional population1
Civilian noninttitutional population1
Civilian labor forot
Participation rata
Empioyad
Employmant-population ratio 3 .
Agriculture
Nonagricultural induttriot
Unamployad
Uhtmploymant rata . . . . . . . .
Not in labor forot
Woman, 20 yaars and ovar
Total noninttitutional population1
Ovilian noninttitutional population1
Civilian labor foroa
Participation rata
Empioyad
Employmant-population ratio*
Agrioultura
Nonagricultural induttriai
Unamployad
Unamploymant rata
Not in labor forot
Both taxaa, 16-19 yaars
Total noninttitutional population1
Civilian noninttitutional population1
Civilian labor foroa
Participation rata
Employmant-population ratio*
Agriculture
Nonagricultural induttriai
vjnwnpioyaa .
Uhamplo^
Not in labor foroa
Whit.
Total noninttitutional population1
Ovilian noninttitutional population1
Ovilian labor foroa
Participation rata
Empioyad
Employmant-population ratio*.
Unamployad
Unamptoymant rata . . . . . . . . .
Not in tabor foroa
,
Black and othar
Total noninttitutional population
Qvwian noninttitutional population . . . . .
' Ovilian labor foroa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Participation rata
Employmant-population ratio*
mpJoyad .
Unampky
Not in labor foroa
Tha population and Armad Forest figurai am not adjust** 1




Civilian ampioymant at a pareant of tha total i

20,234.
19,802
12,175
61.5
10,734
53.0
1,442
11.8
7,627
I population (including Armad

HOUSEHOLD DATA

DATA

Taata A-2. Major unami

indicators, saasonaily adjustad

•nptoywl P*

dMOpMOMItOf
i noun tort by SMJ urwnployod ond
ptroant of potMitiaNy wailabM labor fbrot hours.




Hay

flay

Bay

Jan.

Feb.

Bar.

Apr.

1978

1979

1978

1979

1979

1979

1979

1979

6,J56
2,264
2,322
1,570

5,929
2,105
2,237
1,587

6.1
4.2
6.2
16.5

5.8
4.0
5.7
15.7

5.7
4.0
5.7
16.1

5.7
4.0
5.7
15.5

5.8
4.0
5.7
16.5

5.8
3.9
5.8
16.8

4,669
1,753
1,752
1,164

4,503
1,609
1,703
1,191

5.3
3.7
5.5
13.8

5.1
3.6
5.0
13.7

4.9
3.4
5.0
13.6

5.0
3.4
5.0
13.6

4.9
3.4
4.9
13.9

5.0
3.3
5.1
14.3

1,469
505
56 2
402

1,409
491
526
391

12.3
8.8
10.9
38.2

11.2
7.8
10.6
32.7

11.9
8.6
10.6
35.5

11.2
8.8
9.8
31.5

11.8
8.6
10.8
34.5

11.6
8.4
9.9
36.9

1,144
1,386
451

995
1,233
439

2.9
6.0
9.3

2.6
5.3
7.8

2.6
5.1
8.3

2.6
5.1
8.3

2.7
5.2
8.4

2.5
5.2
8.9

4,782
1,389
1,404

4,508
1,437
1,213

5.6
9.2
1.4
6.6

5.2
9.1
1.2
6.2

5.2
8.6
1.2
6.2

5.1
9.2
1.3
6.1

5.3
8.8
1.2
6.5

5.2
9.6
1.2
6.3

1,783
363
211
276
933
2,243
568
989
210
476
1,057
101

1,636
310
235
255
836
2,296
536
962
210
588
989
94

3.7
2.5
2.1
4.5
5.3
6.7
4.4
8.4
5.6
8.8
7.6
3.6

3.3
2.5
2.0
3.8
4.6
6*4
4.5
7.6
4.9
9.4
7.9
2. a

3.4
2.3
• 9
.3
.7
.4
.7
•6
.0
• 3
.1
3.6

3.4
2.1
2.2
4.1
4.9
6.6
4.6
7.7
5.2
10.3
7.2
3.2

3.3
2.2
2.3
4.0
4.5
6.9
4.2
8.6
6.0
10.5
7.4
3.4

3.2
2.0
2.2
4.0
4.6
6.7
4.0
8.3
5*4
11.1
7*2
3.5

4,355
467
1,251
671
580
208
1,263
1,124
642
1_23_

4,232
486
1,223
599
624
194
1,194
1,091
570
147

6.0
9.6
5.7
5.1
6.5
3.9
6.9
5.2
4.0
7.9

5.7
10.6
5.0
4.4
5.9
3.5
6.5
5.1
4.0
7.2

5.5
10.2
5.2
4-3
6.4
4.0
6.2
4.7
4.1
7.7

5.7
10.3
5.4
4.6
6.5
2.9
6.6
4.8
3.6
8.6

5.7
9.6
5.4
4.4
7.0
3.5
6.4
5.0
3.S
9-3

i at •
l by

5.6
1t.5
4.8
4.1
5.8
3.0
6.6
4.8
3.7
8.9

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-3. Selected employment indicators
[In

Bay

Hay

Hay

Jan.

Feb*

Bar.

Apr.

flay

1978

1979

1978

1979

1979

1979

1979

1979

93,851
55,312
38,539
38,665
21,694

96,220
56,280
39,941
39,066
22,490

93,953
55,372
38,581
38,596
21,694

96,300
56,449
39,851
39,202
22,410

96,647
56,549
40,098
39,374
22,632

96,842
56,559
40,283
39,291
22,700

96,174
56,267
39,907
38,917
22,355

96,318
56,352
39,966
38,988
22,490

46,726
14,356
9,913
5,887
16,569
31,513
12,206
10,781
3,530
4,995
12,804
2,809

48,935
15,220
10,312
6,073
17,331
31,859
12,764
10,643
3,689
4,762
12,728
2,698

46,885
14,356
9,972
5,903
16,654
31,477
12,233
10,798
3,508
4,938
12,838
2,708

48,275
14,743
10,322
6,055
17,154
32,491
12,842
11,047
3,678
4,924
12,777
2,759

49,001
15,034
10,414
6,141
17,412
32,331
12,932
10,953
3,618
4,829
12,770
2,742

49,133
15,083
10,407
6,067
17,577
32,085
12,808
11,060
3,565
4,652
12,856
2,803

49,160
15,226
10,409
6,07S
17,446
31,582
12,697
10,651
3,550
4,684
12,909
2,624

49,104
15,220
10,374
6,091
17,418
31,826
12,790
10,664
3,667
4,706
12,754
2,600

1,441
1,614
314

1,446
1,524
339

1,434
1,577
250

1,365
1,547
293

1,4129
1,550
348

1,419
1,595
324

1,362
1,531
282

1,439
1,490
270

,

83,413
15,325
68,087

,

1,386
66,701
6,503
567

85,509
15,729
69,780
1,157
68,623
6,870
532

84,016
15,238
68,778
1,410
67,368
6,274
497

86,169
15,217
70,952
1,245
69,707
6,529
478

86,346
15,293
71,053
1,334
69,719
6,632
456

86,592
15,224
71,368
1,255
70,112
6,585
443

86,195
15,356
70,83S
1,160
69,679
6,466
471

86,129
15,635
70,494
1,177
69,317
6,625
466

86,911
70,648
3,043
1,182
1,861
13,220

89,246
73,056
3,100
1,216
1,884
13,090

85,401
70,090
3,247
1,211
2,036
12,064

87,490
72,209
3,159
1,208
1,951
12,122

87,592
72,250
3,147
1,205
1,942
12,195

87,955
72,623
3,179
1,235
1,944
12,154

86,345
71,554
3,312
1,265
2,048
11,479

87,727
72,476
3,307

CHARACTERISTICS
Total employed, 16 years and over

Marriad man, apouat praaant
Married woman, apouaa praaant
OCCUPATION
Whita-collar workers
Profastional and technical
Managers and administrators, axacpt farm,
Sales workers
,
Clerical workers
Blue-collar workers .
Craft and kindred workers
,
Operatives, except transport
Transport equipment operatives
Nonfarm laborers
Service workers
Farm workers.
MAJOR INDUSTRY AND CLASS
OF WORKER
Agriculture:
Wage and salary workers
Self-employed workers
Unpaid family workers
Nonegriculturel industries:
Wage and salary workers
Government
Private industries
Private households
Other industries
Self-employed workers
Unpaid family workers • •
PERSONS AT WORK 1
Nonagricultural industries
Full-time schedules . . . Part time for economic reasons
Usually work full time
Usually work part time
Part time for noneconomic reasons

1,246
2,061
11,943

Excludes persons "with a job but not at work" during the survey period for such
vacation, illness, or industrial disputes.

Table A-4. Duration of unemployment
[Numbers in thousands]
Seasonally edjustad

Not seasonally adjusted
Weeks of unemployment

H*y

Hay

flay

Jan.

Feb.

flar.

Apt.

flay

1978

1979 »

1978

1979

1979

1979

1979

1979

2,563
1,385
1,510
792
718'

2,494
1,455
1,304
768
536

2,862
1,842
1,404
723
681

2,713
1,877
1,251
728
523

2,743
1,870
1,260
712
548

2,751
1,857
1,305
729
576

2,939
1#874
1,235
692
543

2,787
1,935
1,213
705
508

13.3
5.8

12.1
5.7

12.2
5.3

11.2
5.9

11.3
6.3

11.7
5.8

11.0
5.2

11.1
5.2

100.0
47.0
25.4
27.7
14.5
13.2

100.0
47.5
27.7
24.8
14.6
10.2

100.0
46.9
30.2
23.0
11.8
11.1

100.0
46.4
32.1
21.4
12.5
9.0

100.0
46.7
31.8
2L4
12.1
9.3

100.0
46.5
31.4
22.1
12.3
9.7

100.0
48.6
31.0
20.4
11.4
9.0

100.0
47.0
32.6
20.4
11.9
8.6

DURATION
Less than 5 weeks
6 to 14 weeks

»

15 to 26 weeks

Median duration, in weeks

PERCENT DISTRIBUTION

Less than B weeks . . , ,
• to 14 weeks
10 weeks end over
IS to 29 weeks . . . ,
27 weeks end over
— — — — » — ^ — — — • — — — — •




i

I

'•

HOUSEHOLD

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-6.
f Numban in thouaandri
•ByadJiMlad
Hay

Nay

Hay

Jan.

Feb.

Bar.

Apr.

Hay

1978

1979

1978

1979

1979

1979

1979

1979

2,322
565
1,757
680
1,643
812*

2,097
572
1,525
782
1,614
761

2,614
701
1,913
828
1,793
892

2,454
753
1,701
927
1,692
823

2,481
792
1,689
829
1,756
874

2,440
789
1,652
863
1,788
822

2,521

2,361

100.0
42.6
10.4
32.2
12.5
30.1
14.9

100.0
39.9
10.9
29.0
14.9
30.7
14.5

100.0
42.7
11.4
31.2
13.5
29.3
14.6

100.0
41.6
12.8
28.9
15.7
28.7
14.0

100.0
41.8
13.3
28.4
14.0
29.6
14.7

2.4
.7
1.7
.8

2.1
.8
1.6
.7

2.6
.8
1.8
.9

2.4
.9
1.7

2.4
.8
1.7
.9

NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED
Lotttaatjob
On layoff
OttMT JOD l O M f l

Uftlartjob
Raantarad labor foroa
Saaking first Job

846

710

1,675

1,652

847

951

1,790

1,762

811

841

100.0
41.3
13.3
27.9
14.6
30.2
13.9

100.0
42.2
14.2
28.1
14.2
30.0
13.6

100.0
39.9
12.0
27.9
16.1
29.8
14.2

2.4
.8
1.7

2.5

2.3
.9
1.7
•8

PERCENT OF DISTRIBUTION
Total unampioyad
Jobloaan
On layoff
Othar Job loam

•

UNEMPLOYED AS A PERCENT OF THE
CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE

1.8
.8

Table A-6. Unemployment by aex and age, seasonally adjusted

Total, 10 yaan and ovar
16to19yaart
10to17yaara
18 to 19 yaan
20 to 24 yaan
25 yaan and ovar
26 to 64 yaan
66 yaan and ovar

flay

flay

•ay

Jan.

Feb.

flar.

Apr.

Bay

1978

1979

1978

1979

1979

1979

1979

1979

6,156
1,570
777
796
1,351
3,215
2,740
474

5,929
1,587
753
835
1,348
2,978
2,509
471

6.1
16.5
19.1
14.6
9.1
4.2
4.5
3.3

5.8
15.7
18.4
13.6
8.6
3.9
4.2
2.9

5.7
16.1
18.4
14.6
8.6
3.9
4.1
3.0

5.7
15.5
18.9
13.1
8.8
3.9
4.1
3-1

5.8
16.5
19.1
14.3
8.5
4.0
4.2
3.^

5.8
16.8
19L2
15.2
8.9
3.8
4.0
3.2

Man, 16 yaan and ovar
16 to 19 yaan
16to17yaars
18 to 19 yaan
20 to 24 yaan
26yaanandovar
25 to 64 yaan
56 yaan and ovar

3,032
768
401
370
640
1,575
1,286
296

2,910
805
408
399
653
1,406
1,156
259

5.2
15.3
18.4
13.1
8.0*
3.5
3.5
3.3

5.1
16.1
19.1
13.5
8.4
3.2
3.3
2.8

5.0
16.5
19.2
14.7
8.2
3.2
3.2
2.8

5.0
16.0
19.9
13.2
8.4
3.2
3.3
2.8

5.*1
16.2
18.0
14.2
7.8
3.3
3.4
3.0

4.9
16.1
19.0
14.1
8.9
3.1
3.1
2.9

Woman, 16 yaan and ovar
16 to 19 yaan
16to17yaan
18 to 19 yaan
20 to 24 yaan

3,124
802
376
426
711
1,640
1,454
178

3,019
782
345
436
695
1,572
1,352
211

7.5
17.8
20.0
16.2
10.5
5.4
5.9
3.2

6.7
15.3
17.5
13.6
8.9
5.0
5.4
3.1

6.7
15.7
17.4
14*4
9.1
4.9
5.3
3.3

6.7
14.8
17.8
13.0
9.4
4.8
5.2
3.6

6.9
16.6
20.2
14.4
9*4
4.9
5.2
3.1

7.0
17.7
19.3
16.4
9,9
5.0
5.2
3*7

25 to 64 yaan
66 yaan and ovar




,.

.........

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-7. Range of unemployment measures based on v a r y i n g d e f i n i t i o n s of unemployment and the labor force,
seasonally a d j u s t e d
[Percent!
Monthly data

Quarterly averages
197b

11
U-1—Persons unemployed 15 weeks or longer as a percent of the
civilian labor force

1.6

1.4

U-2—Job losers as a percent of the civilian labor force

2.6

2.5

U-3—Unemployed persons 25 years and over as a percent of the civilian
labor force 25 years and over

4. 1

4.1

U-4—Unemployed full-time jobseekers as a percent of the full-time labor
force

5.7

U-5—Total unemployed as a percent of the civilian labor force
(official measure)

6.2

6.0

U-6—Total full-time jobseekers plus Vi part-time jobseekers plus 14 total
on part time for economic reasons as a percent of the civilian
labor force less Vi of the part-time labor force

7.7

7.6

U-7 —Total full-time jobseekers plus Vi part-time jobseekers plus % total
on part time for economic reasons plus discouraged workers as a
percent of the civilian labor force plus discouraged workers less
Vi of the part-time labor force

111

1.3
2.4

4.1

5.5

8.o

1979

1979

6.0

7.5

8.4

Mar.

Apr.

1.2

1.3

1.2

2.4

2.4

2.5

3.9

3.9

4.0

5.2

5.1

5.3

5.7

5.7

5.8

7.2

7.1

7.3

7.9

N.A.

S.A.

IV

1.2
2.4

3.9

5.2

5.8

7.2

8.0

May

1.2
2.3

3.8

5.2

5.8

7.3

N.A.

N.A.= not available.

Table A-8. Employment status of the non institutional population by race and Hispanic origin, not seasonally adjusted
[Number in thousands]
Hispanic origin •<
Employment status

Civilian noninstitutional population
Civilian labor force
Percent of population
Employment
Agriculture
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployment
Unemployment rate . . . .
Not in labor force

i'idy
1:97b

May
1979

May
1978

15b,601

161,132

139,317

101,473
63.0
96,220
3,309
92,911
5,253
5.2
59,708

87,567
62.9
83,44b
3,065
80,362
4,120
4.7
51,750

9?,309
o2.0
9 3,35 1
3 , 369
90,4di
5,45/
5.5
59,^92

1
Oata relate to black workers only. According to the 1970 Census, they comprised about 89 percent of the "black and other" population group.




May

May

May

May

May

1979

1978

1979

1S78

1979

141,331

16,590

16,981

7,718

8,011

89,456
63.3
85,482
3,036
82,446
3,974
4.4
51,675

10,039
60.5
8,829
225
8,604
1,210
12.1
6,550

1 0 , 197
60. 0
9,019
212
8,807
1,177
11.5
6,785

4,775
61.9
4,348
262
4,086
427
8.9
2,944

4,977
62.1
4,605
222
4,383
372
7.5
3,034

3
Oata on persons of Hispanic origin are tabulated separately, without regard to race, which means
that they are also included in the data for white and black workers. At the time of the 1970 Census,
approximately 96 percent of their population was white.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-9. Employment status of male Vietnam-era veterans and nonveterans by age, not seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
Civilian li

r force
Unemployed

Civilian
tutional
population

Veteran status
and age

Percent
of

Employed

Total

day
1978

flay
1979

flay
1978

flay
1979

flay
1978

flay
1979

Total, 20 years and over
20 to 24 years

6,311
784

8,516
579

7,311
685

8,085
517

7,518

64 2

7,748
460

293
43

25 to 39 years
25 to 29 years
30 to 34 years
35 to 39 years
40 years and over

6,823
2,417
3,32 7
1,081
70 2

7,106
2,003
3,5*1
1,512
831

6,522
2,276
3,198
1,048
•604

6,867
1,907
3,491
1,469
701

6,292
2,155
3,123
1,014
584

6 , 6 04
1,607
3,366
1,431
684

13,721
6,*26
3,966
3,529

12,443
5,420
3,714
3,309

13,309
6,016
3,847
3,446

flay
1979

flay
1S78

flay
1979

337
57

3.Q
6.3

4.2
11.0

230
121
75
34
20

263
100
125
38
17

3.5
5.3
2.3
3.2
3.3

3.8
5.2
3.6
2.6
2.4

501
252
140
109

412
210
119
83

3.9
4.4
3.6
3.2

3.0
3.4
3.0
2.4

flay
1978

VETERANS'

NONVETERANS
Total, 25 to 39 years
25 to 29 years
30 to 34 years
35 to 39 years

13,565
6,015
3,991
3,559

14,463
6,597
4,148
3,718

12,944
5,672
3,854
3,418

Vietnam-era veterans are those who served between August 5,1964 and May 7,1975.
Nonveterans are males who have never served in the Armed Forces. Published data are limited,
to those 25-39 years of age, the group that most closely corresponds to the bulk of the Vietnam-era
veteran population.
3




NOTE: Seasonally-adjusted data are no longer being provided because the changing age composition
of the Vietnam-era veterans' population distorts the ability to identify seasonality in the series.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-10 Employment status of the noninstitutional population for ten large States
(Numbers in thousands]
Not seasonally adjusted
State and employment status

Seasonally adjusted

May
1978

Apr.
1979

May
1979

May
1978

Jan.
1979

Feb.
1979

Mar.
1979

Apr.
1979

May
1979

16,290
10,616
9,872
744
7.0

16,593
10,662
10,006
656
6.2

16,648
10,732
10,131
601
5.6

16,290
10,645
9,834
811
7.6

16,536
10,824
10,137
687
6.3

16,561
10,863
10,149
714
6.6

16,623
10,783
10,084
699
6.5

16,593
10,755
10,071
684
6.4

16,648
10,761
10,093
668
6.2

6,489
3,625
3,401
223
6.2

6,671
3,832
3,629
202
5.3

6,689
3,789
3,596
193
5.1

,489
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

6,620
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

6,636
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

6,654
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

6,671
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

6,689
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

8,199
5,266
4,947
319
6.1

8,265
5,219
4,946
273
5.2

8,271
5,182
4,937
245
4.7

8,199
5,319
4,954
365
6.9

8,247
5,317
5,051
266
5.0

8,252
5,260
4,996
264
5.0

8,259
5,273
4,973
300
5.7

8,265
5,269
4,962
307
5.8

8,271
5,235
4,944
291
5.6

4,322
2,800
2,649
152
5.4

4,365
2,883
2,731
152
5.3

4,369
2,856
2,713
143
5.0

4,322
(2)
2,660
(2)
(2)

4,354
(2)
2,727
(2)
(2)

4,357
(2)
2,775
(2)
(2)

4,361
(2)
2,754
(2)
(2)

4,365
(2)
2,763
(2)
(2)

4,369
(2)
2,724
(2)
(2)

6,634
4,166
3,893
273
6.6

6,716
4,254
3,888
366
8.6

6,723
4,327
4,016
311
7.2

6,634
(2)
(2)
299
(2)

6,694
(2)
(2)
329
(2)

6,701
(2)
(2)
305
(2)

6,708
(2)
(2)
293
(2)

6,716
(2)
(2)
365
(2)

6,723
(2)
(2)
337
(2)

5,449
3,338
3,094
244
7.3

5,502
3,425
3,231
194
5.7

5,506
3,465
3,218
247
7.1

5,449
3,354
3,090
264
7.9

5,488
3,569
3,327
242
6.8

5,492
3,583
3,312
271
7.6

5,497
3,529
3,294
235
6.7

5,502
3,477
3,271
206
5.9

5,506
3,482
3,215
267
7.7

13,258
7,723
7,145
578
7.5

13,287
7,943
7,410
533
6.7

13,289
7,854
7,394
460
5.9

13,258
7,765
7,145
620
8.0

13,276
8,094
7,531
563
7.0

13,278
8,030
7,498
532
6.6

13,282
8,022
7,435
587
7.3

13,287
7,936
7,380
556
7.0

13,289
7,896
7,394
502
6.4

7,857
4,868
4,621
247
5.1

7,931
4,963
4,687
275
5.5

7,936
4,993
4,747
246
4.9

7,857
4,899
4,613
286
5.8

7,912
5,065
4,760
305
6.0

7,917
5,056
4,773
283
5.6

7,924
5,063
4,811
252
5.0

7,931
5,026
4,746
280
5.6

7,936
5,025
4,740
285
5.7

8,842
5,139
4,841
298
5.8

8,896
5,186
4,866
320
6.2

8,902
5,217
4,922
294
5.6

8,842
5,201
4,849
352
6.8

8,881
5,333
4,994
339
6.4

8,885
5,275
4,947
328
6.2

8,891
5,295
4,932
363
6.9

8,896
5,219
4,889
330
6.3

8,902
5,278
4,930
348
6.6

9,163
5,927
5,680
247
4.2

9,343
6,083
5,845
239
3.9

9,380
6,026
5,771
255
4.2

9,163
5,982
5,707
275
4.6

9,309
6,150
5,913
237
3.9

9,325
6,220
5,963
257
4.1

9,367
6,146
5,908
238
v3.9

9,343
6,136
5,855
281
4.6

9,380
6,081
5,798
283
4.7

California
Civilian n o n i n s t i t u t i o n a l p o p u l a t i o n '
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
U n e m p l o y m e n t rate
Florida
Civilian n o n i n s t i t u t i o n a l p o p u l a t i o n 1
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
U n e m p l o y m e n t rate
Illinois
Civilian n o n i n s t i t u t i o n a l p o p u l a t i o n '
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
U n e m p l o y m e n t rate
Massachusetts
Civilian n o n i n s t i t u t i o n a l p o p u l a t i o n ' . .
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
U n e m p l o y m e n t rate
Michigan
Civilian n o n i n s t i t u t i o n a l p o p u l a t i o n '
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
U n e m p l o y m e n t rate
New Jersey
Civilian n o n i n s t i t u t i o n a l p o p u l a t i o n ' .
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
U n e m p l o y m e n t rate
New York
Civilian n o n i n s t i t u t i o n a l p o p u l a t i o n 1
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
U n e m p l o y m e n t rate
Ohio
Civilian n o n i n s t i t u t i o n a l p o p u l a t i o n '
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
U n e m p l o y m e n t rate
Pennsylvania
Civilian n o n i n s t i t u t i o n a l p o p u l a t i o n '
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
U n e m p l o y m e n t rate
Texas
Civilian n o n i n s t i t u t i o n a l p o p u l a t i o n '
Civilian labor foice
Employed
Unemployed
U n e m p l o y m e n t rate

The population figures are not adjusted for seasonal variations; therefore, identical
numbers appear in the unadjusted and the seasonally adjusted columns.
These are the official Bureau of Labor Statistics' estimates used in the administration
of Federal fund allocation programs.




Seasonally-adjusted data are not presented for this series, because the variations that are
due to seasonal influences cannot be separated with sufficient precision from those which stem
from the trend-cycle and irregular components of the original time series.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Table B-1. Employees on nonagricultural payrolls by industry
[In thousands]

Industry

TOTAL
GOODS-PRODUCING
MINING
CONSTRUCTION
MANUFACTURING
Production workers
DURABLE GOODS
Production workers
Lumber and wood products
Furniture and fixtures
Stone, day. and glass products
Primary metal industries
Fabricated metal products
Machinery, except electrical
Electric and electronic equipment
Transportation equipment
Instruments and related products
Miscellaneous manufacturing
NONDURABLE GOODS
Production workers
Food and kindred products
Tobacco manufacturers
Textile mill products
Apparel and other textile products
Paper and allied products
Printing and publishing
Chemicals and allied products
Petroleum and coal products
Rubber and misc. plastics products
Leather and leather products

SERVICE-PRODUCING

MAY
197$

MAR.
1979

APR. p
1979

MAY ,
1979

85.796

87*346

87.957

25*262

25*788

26*013

870

906

915

921

869

4,183

4*159

4.354

4*593

4.175

20.209
14,534

20*723
14*872

20.744
14.887

20.808 20.297
14.952 14.603

12*083
8*684

12*565
9*011

12.600
9.042

12.637 12.093
9.075 8.685

749.1
743.7
485.4
487.0
701.6
1*200.6 ri.243.5
1*645.7 1*696.6
2*303.9 2*486.4
1*942.5 2*042.9
1*953.5 2*038.3
686.2
646.7
447.9
454.4

748.3
482.4
702.9
1.252.5
1.699.3
2.496.0
2.048.5
2,032.9
689.9
447.5

755.7
480.9
712.7
1.246.9
1.702.9
2.494.3
2.055*3
2.051.1
688.9
448.2

8*158
5*861

8.144
5.845

1*642.5
68.1
905.3
1*304.7
710.2
1*215.3
1*094.0
208.3
770.1
239.1
60*534 61*558

1.633.4
66.4
900.7
1.301.7
712.5
1.216.7
1.096.7
210.2
767.5
238.2

8*126
5*850
1*644.6
66.6
912.1
1*328.2
705.8
1*177.3
1*087.4
207.8
741.0
255.6

61.944

MAY
1978

JAN.

1979

FEB.
1979

MAR.
1979

APR.p
1979

88.673 85.618

87.524

87.818

88*263

88*267

26*322 25.341

26.111

26.199

26*412

26.369

90S

919

922

924

4.381

4.385

4*526

4.517

20.825
14.996

20.895
15.047

28*964
15*088

20*926
15.039

12.562
9*034

12.647
9.100

12*699
9.131

12.671
9.096

745
489
700
1.197
1*652
2*311
1*952
1*942
649
456

770
494
706
1.241
1.706
2.447
2.027
2.031
681
459

773
493
709
1.251
1.715
2.465
2.042
2.055
686
458

768
491
714
1.254
1.712
2.481
2.064
2.067
690
456

760
487
712
1.254
1.711
2.496
2.065
2.037
693
456

8.171
5.877

8*204
5*918

8*263
5.962

8.248
5.947

8.265
5.957

8.257
5.943

1.645.2
66.0
904.6
1.299.8
712.5
1.218.5
1.101.0
212.7
767.1
243.1

1*701
75
913
1*326
709
1*180
1*093
207
747
253

1.716
72
912
1.318
708
1.209
1.099
211
773
245

1.708
71
911
1*304
712
1*214
1.098
212
777
241

1.716
73
909
1.301
717
1.219
1.098
214
778
240

1.709
73
903
1*306
719
1.219
1.101
214
776
237

62.351 60*277

61.413

61.619

61.851

61.698

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC
UTILITIES

4*842

4*965

4.902

4*847

4.974

5.001

5.025

4.942

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE

19*267

19*548

19.817

19,995 19*335

19.817

19.883

19.945

19.966

WHOLESALE TRADE

4*870
14*397

5*015
14*533

5.037
14.780

5.068
14.927

5.020
14.797

5.035

5.055
16.890

5.067
14.699

RETAIL TRADE
FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE
SERVICES
GOVERNMENT
FEDERAL

STATE AND LOCAL
p=preliminary.




4.990

4.885

14.848

14.450

4*642

4*810

4.839

4.868

15*975

16*436

16.578

16.691

15*808

15.799

15.808

15.807

4.809
4.637
15.896

2*7*0
13*059

2.750
13.058

2.761
13.046

2*753
12.809

4,854
16.578

15*507

15,556

2*754
12*753

2*756
12.802

16*438
15*461

15.562
2*756
13*052

4.839
16.535

4*829
16.352
15*468
2*755
12*706

2*755
12*713

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA
i

Table B-2. Average weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers, on private
nonagricultural payrolls by industry

MAY
1978

MAR,
1979

APR.
1979*

MAY
1979°

MAY
1978

JAN,
1979

FEB,
1979

MAR.
1979

APR.
1979 P

MAY
1979

35.7

35,7

35,1

35.5

35.9

35.7

35.7

35.9

35.4

35.6

MINING

43.4

42,9

42.7

43.4

43.4

43.4

43.0

43.2

43.1

43.4

CONSTRUCTION

36.7

37,0

35.5

36.8

36.6

35.9

36.4

37.6

35.8

36.7

MANUFACTURING
Overtime hours

40.4
3.4

40,6
3,6

36.9
2.6

40.2
3.4

40.4
3.5

40.7
3.8

40.7
3-9

40.6
,3*8

40.2
3.4

DURABLE GOODS
Overtime hours

41.0
3.6

41.4
3.9

39.3

2.6

40.9
3.6

41.0
3.7

41.5
4.2

41.5
4.2

41.6
4.1

39.2
2.8
39.5

39.9
39.2

39.7
39,0
41,8
41.9
41.3
42,6
40,7
42.2
41.3
39,2

39.1
37.5
41.0
41.6
38.7
40.2
36.7
38.0
39.9
37.6

40.0
36.1
41.9
42.4
40.2
41.6
40.0
41.7
40.8
36.4

41.6
41.7
41.1
42.1
40.2
41.8
40.6
36.8

39.5
39.4

40.0
39.2
41.4
42.4

41.5
42.3

39.5
38.6

41.4
42.6
40.9
42.7
41.1
39.0

40.1
39.4
42.3
41.9
41.5
42.6
40.9
42.4
41.4
39.2

2.6
39.2
36.2
41.2
41.6
39.0
40.4
36.9
36.1
40.2
37.7

3.1

39.4
3.1

36.3
2.5

39.0
2.9

39.5
3.2

39.6
3.2

39.4
3.2

39.6
3.3

36.7
2.T

39.1
3.0

39.6
38.6
40.8
35.8
42.8
37.2
41.8
42.9
40.7
37.7

39,6
38,1
40.4
35.4
42.6
37.7
41.9
43.8
41.4
35.9

39.1
37.6
38.6
33.9
41.7
36.5
42.0
44.3
39.4
35.1

39.4
38.1
39.9
35.0
42.7
37.1
41.9
43.3
40.6
35.9

39.8

40.1
36.7
40.9
35.3
42.9
37.7
42.0
43.4
41.5
37.0

39.7
36.7
40.0
35.5
42.9
37.7
41.9
43.4
41.5
36.3

40.1
36.5
40.6
35.5
42.9

39.6
37.9
39.0
34,3
42.4
36.9
41.9
44.5
39.8
35.6

39.6
36.1
39.6
35.1
•2.6
37.2
42.0
•3.3

TOTAL PRIVATE ....

Lumbar and wood products
Furniture and fixtures
Stona, day, and glass products . .
Primary metal industries
Fabricated metal products
MscMnary,eseetitelectrical . . . . .
BacSf K and electronic equipment
Transportation equipment
Instruments and related products
Miscellaneous manufacturing . . . .
NONDURABLE GOODS
O)
ft
T<
Textile mM products
Apparel and other textile products
Paper and allied products
Printing and publishing
Chemicals and allied products
Petroleum and coal products
Rubber and misc. plastics products
Leather and leather product;

41.8
41.7
41.1
41.8
40.1
42.1
40.6
38.8
39.3

36.7
40.5
35.9
42.9
37.3
41.9
42.9
41.1
37.6

41.2
42.2
40.7
43.0
41.1
39.1

37.8
42.0
44.2
41.4
36.2

40.9
3.6

39.6
36.3

41.*
42.4
40.2
42.1
40.1
41.6
•0.6
38.4

41.0
35.7

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC
UTILITIES

39.9

39,9

39.1

39.5

40.2

40.2

40.0

40.2

39.3

39.7

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE

32.7

32,4

32.5

32.4

32.9

32.4

32.5

32.7

32.8

32.6

WHOLESALE TRADE
RETAIL TRADE

38.7
30.9

36,9
30,3

36.6
30.6

36.6
30.5

38.7
31.1

36.7
30.5

36.7
30*6

39.1
30.7

36.6
30.9

38.6
30.7

FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND
REAL ESTATE

36.3

36.3

36,4

36.2

36.3

36.3

36.3

36.3

36.5

36.2

SERVICES

32.6

32.6

32.5

32.4

32.9

32.6

32.6

32.6

32.7

32.6

1
Data relate to production workers in mining and
•ft trade; finance, iiMurance^and reel estate; and Services.




to construction workers in. construction; and to nonsupervisory workers in transportation and public utilities; wholesale a
accoupft for approximately four-fifths of 1$e,tote> employmlmt or^privati oonagricultural payrolls.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Table B-3. Average hourly and weekly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on private
nonagricultural payrolls by industry

1978

MAR,
1979

APR.p
1979

1979

65.62
5*62

S6.02
6.04

$6.02
6.04

S6.07
6.08

MAY

TOTAL PRIVATE
Seasonally adjusted

MINING
CONSTRUCTION
MANUFACTURING
DURABLE GOODS
Lumber and wood products
Furniture and fixtures
Stone, clay, and glass products
Primary metal industries
Fabricated metal products
Machinery, except electrical
Electric and electronic equipment
Transportation equipment
Instruments and related products
Miscellaneous manufacturing
NONDURABLE GOODS
Food and kindred products
Tobacco manufacturers
Textile mill products
Apparel and other textile products
Paper and allied products
Printing and publishing
Chemicals and allied products
Petroleum and coal products
Rubber and misc. plastics products
Leather and leather products.

MAY

MAR*

1978

1979

APR. .
1979

$200.83 1214.91 6211.30
201.76 216.64 213.82

7.64

8.26

8.51

8.42

331.56

8.52

8.96

9.00

9.07

312.66

331.52

819.50

6.07

6.55

6.54

6.62

245.23

265.93

254.41

6.47

6.99

6.94

7.06

265.27

269.39

272.74

5.49
4.61
6.25
8.04
6.27
6.63
5t73
7.75
5.65
4.64

5.84
4.95
6.63
8.74
6.72
7.18
6.17
8.41
6.04
4.95

5.91
4.94
6.71
8.90
6.63
7.09
6.12
8.25
6.03
4.96

5.98
4.97
6.77
8.66
6.75
7.18
6.21
6.52
6.11
5.03

219.05
180.71
261.25
335.27
257.70
277.13
229.77
326.28
230.52
160.03

231.85
193.05
277.13)
366.21
277.54
305.87
251.12)
354.90
249.45
194.04

231.06
165.25
275.11
370.24|
256.58
265.021
236.64
313.50
240.60
166.50

5.44

5.85

5.89

5.91

213.79

230.491

225.59

5.75
6.41
4.19
3.89
6.37
6.38
6.93
8.52
5.43
3.88

6.12
6.74
4.52
4.19
6.88
6.74
7.36
9.28
5.83
4.17

6.19
6.91
4.47
4.18
6.92
6.70
7.49
9.41
5.80
4.. 1»

6.20
6.95
4.51
4.21
6.94
6.76
7.46
9.24
5.92
4.18

227.70
247.43
170.U
139.26
272.64
237.34
289.67
365.51
221.00
146.26

242.35
256.79|
162.61
146.331
293.09
254.10
306.381
406.46
241»36|
149.70

242.03
259.62
172.54
141.70
266.56
244.55
314.58
416.66
226.52
147.07
307.72

354.35! 363.36

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES

7.45

7.89

7.87

7.92

297.26

314.61

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE

4.41

4.98

4.99

4.99

150.75

161.351

162.16

WHOLESALE TRADE

5.7S

6.24
4.47

6.30
4.48

6.29
4.48

223.69
126.24

242.74|
135.44

243.16

5.18

5.22

5.19

176.06

167.31

RETAIL TRADE

4.15

FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE

4.85

SERVICES

4.95

1

Seefootnotal. table B-2.




5.27

5.30

5.29

161.37

137. 09|
171.80

190.01
172.25

p-preiiminary.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA
Table B-4.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Hourly earnings index for production or nonsupervisory workers

nonagricultural payrolls

on private

by industry division, seasonally adjusted

Percent change from—
MAY
1978

DBC.
1979

JAN.
1979

FED.
1979

MAS.
1979

APB. P
1979

KAY P
1979

211.0
109.1

220.7
10A.6

222.8
108.6

223.9
107.8

225.3
107.3

226.8
106.9

277.1
N.A.

7.6
(2)

0. 1

237.3
206.0
213.5
229.2
204.0
192.4
210.4

249.1
212.5
224.1
238.3
214.6
202.0
218.9

251.7
213.4
225.4
240.7
217.8
202.3
221.7

253.3
216.3
227.1
241.6
218.1
203.9
'222.2

256.0
216.5
228.8
242.7
219.8
204.3
223.5

264.1
217.6
230.9
241.9
220.8
20T-.3
225.3

261.9
219.3
231.6
244.0
220.7
205.7
224.4

10.3
6.4
8.5
6.4
8.2
b.9
6.7

-.8
.7
. 3

MAY
197 8 MAY 1 9 7 9

APR. 1 9 7 9 1AY 1 9 7 9

TOTAL PRIVATE NONFARM:

Constant (1967) dollars
MINING
CONSTRUCTION
MANUFACTURING
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE
FINANCE. INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE
SERVICES
•

j

P)

.8
-. 1
-.8
-. 4

iinI

1 See footnote 1, table B-2.

~~

PERCENT CHANGS BAS - 2
* PERCENT CHANGE WAS -Ti

F!>0U APPIL
rPOM 1ARCH

1 9 7 8 TO APBIL

--

1979 1C APRIL

1 9 7 9 , THE LATEST '.103TH

-

F LE
AVAILAf-l

- -

1979,'THE LATEST MCNTH AVAILABLE.

N.A. • not available,
p-preliminary.
NOTE: All series are in current dollars except where indicated. The index excludes effects of two types of changes that are unrelated to underlying wage-rate developments: Fluctuations in overtime
premiums in manufacturing (the only sector for which overtime data are available) and the effects of changes in the proportion of workers in high-wage and low-wage industries.
Table B-5.

Indexes of aggregate weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers, on private

nonagricultural payrolls by industry, seasonally adjusted
{19*7-1001

1979

1970

MAY

TOTAL PRIVATE
GOODS-PRODUCING
MINING

(JUNE

JULY

AU6.

SEPT. I0CT.

NOV.

DEC.

(JAN.

FEB.

MAR.

APR.

MAY

120.6

120.6

120.4

120.8

121.6

122.4

122*9 [122*6

123.2

124*7

122.5

123.7

1 0 5 . 1 [106.0

106.1

105.4

105.5

106.5

108.0

109.1

106.7

109.1

111.0

106.3

109.2

14+.0

143.5

145.7

144.4

145.2

146.0

149.1

149.2

149.3

150.0

149.7

149*4

120.6

122.4

131.5

124.9

130.4

120.0

143,1

CONSTRUCTION

117.1

122.8

124.2

122.8

122.6

123*8

124.3

126.5

MANUFACTURING

101.6

101.7

101.6

101.0

101.2

102*1

103.7

104.6

105.2

105.4

106.0

101.6

104.0

103.5

104.0
113.6 112.3
109.5 108.3
112.4 111.1
94.4
94.1
102.4 102.0
111.31 1 1 2 . 1
99.6 101.8
96.2
95.6
1 2 2 . 4 123.6
99.8
101.4

103.5
110.7
106.4
109.8
95.3
101.6
110.8
101.1
96.1
123.9
100.6

1 0 3 . 9 105*5
111.6 1 1 3 . 9
1 0 6 . 2 107*5
1 1 0 . 1 110*8
96.9
95.5
102.0 103.1
1 1 1 . 5 113*6
1 0 0 . 1 101*4
9 7 . 7 100*4
1 2 3 . 9 124*5
1 0 0 . 3 100*9

107.1
115.3
108.6
112.0
99.0
105.2
114.5
102.6
102.6
125.7
101.6

108.3
116.2
109.4
113.3
99.2
106.6
116.9
103.4
103.8
126.9
101.5

106.6
116.6
110.0
111*5
99.7
106.6
117.0
105.1
104.7
128.8
102.9

109.6 110.2
115.5 116.9
108.6 109.7
112.2 115.1
99.6
1Q0.5
106.0 107.9
119.2 119.6
106.4 107.6
105*0 1 0 4 . 8
130*0 1 3 1 . 3
102*3 1 0 2 . 6

104.3
112*9
105*3
111*5
99.0
101.1
114.3
102.6
92.5
127.6
96.1

107.6
112.4
105.1
112.5
99.7
104.1
119.4
106.1
100.7
130.0
98.4

97*2
96.8
92*2
94.6
73.5
73*5
91.6
92.4
68.7
90*0
98*2 100*5
98*5 100*3
106*2 107*2
123*0 1 2 4 . 7
147*0 149*6
68*6
67*3

99.1
96.1
77.6
92.2
69.8
100.7
100*1
107.0
124.2
152.3
66.5

99.9
97.0
74.6
93.6
89.6
101.7
101.1
107.6
123.3
153.9
66.7

99.2
95.3
73.5
91.3
69.2
102.5
101.7
107.6
124.2
154.9
64.2

99.8
97.0
78.4
92.3
86.6
103.5
102.6
107.5
127.4
154.5
63.7

97.5
98.5
95.8
94.6
77.2
60.3
88.0
90.3
86.0
87.6
102.6 103.2
100.0 101.4
107*4 1 0 8 . 2
127.4 124.8
147.6 151.5
62.0
63.1

131.4

132*0

132.3

132.5

132*3

132.9

134.2

133.7

133.7

DURABLE GOODS
Lumbar and wood products
Furniture and fixtures
Stone, day. and glass products
Primary metal industries
Fabricated metal products
Machinery, except electrical
Electric and electronic equipment . . .
Transportation equipment
Instruments and related products
Miscellaneous manufacturing industry
NONDURABLE GOODS
Food and kindred products
Tobacco manufacturers
Textile mill products
Apparel and other textile products . . .
Paper and allied products
Printing and publishing
Chemicals and allied products
Petroleum and coal products
Rubber and misc. plastics products . ,
Leather and leather |
SERVICE-PRODUCING

111.8
110.3
111.*
93.9
103.3
109.5
99.8
96.6
120.8
101.5

103.8

98.9
98.7
98.1
94.6
94.0
93.6
78.6
81.5
84.1
91.8
91.5
92.6
91.4
90.1
91.9
101.9 101.9 101.9
98.61 9 9 . 1
98.2
106.9 106.9 106.6
118.4 120.4 121.2
146.6 1 4 7 . 0 | 1 4 6 . 2
70.4
67.1
70.1
130.7

97.2
97.2
91.3
91.4
74.5
71.5
91.6
91.2
90.1
90.1
99.0
99.2
97.8
96.3
106.0 106.0
123.2| 122.7
145.4 145.0
69.6
69.1
130.6

130.5

134.7

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC
UTILITIES

109.0

109.41 1 0 6 . 5

107.7| 1 0 8 . 2

109*9

110*2

110.3

111*2

111.2

112.2

107*8

110.4

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
TRADE

126.8

126.81 1 2 7 . 4

127.2

127.5

1£8.2

128.4

126*7

127.6

126.4

129.5

129.8

129.4

125.2

126.1 125.7
127.Ol 1 2 8 . 0

126.1 127.1
127.71 1 2 7 . 7

127*4
126.5

127*6
126*7

128.5

127.3

128.6

128*4
127.3

126*9
126*2

130*6
129*0

130.0
129*6

130.3
129.1

136.2

137.9] 1 3 9 . 0

139.2| 139.6

140.5

140*6

140*9

141.7

142.0

142.4

143.7) 1 4 2 . 7

143.8

143.»! 1 4 4 . 1

14JU1

145 eO 145*6

145.4

145.8

WHOLESALE TRADE
RETAIL TRADE
FINANCE, INSURANCE. AND
REAL ESTATE

1,t




a B-2.

14J*£

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Table B-6. Indexes of diffusion: Percent of industries in which employment 1 increased

Year and month

Over 1 month span

Over 3-month span

Over 6-month span

Over 12 month spun

I '-> 7 h

Linn.) ry
February
March

78.2
72.4
69.5

85 .8
84 .9
81 .4

87.2
85.8
82.0

8 5, 2

April
May
June

70.1
58.1
57.8

72 .4
67 .2
65 .1

75.
68.
71.

78 .8
82 .6
79 .9

July
August
S ep tembe r

58.4
49.1
64.8

57 .8
64 .0
53 <8

63.1
65.1
66.3

78 .5
77 .6
80 „2

Oc tober
November
Decembe r

47,
67
66

65 .1
64 .2
81 .4

73.3
78.8
'81.4

80 .8
80 .8
82 .6

January
February
March

76.2
66.0
74.7

83.1
86.3
81 .1

88.1
87.8
85.2

78 .8
80 .5
80 .2

April
May
June

68.0
64.8
71 .2

79.
76.
68,

79,
75.
72.1

84 6
84 0
83 1

July
August.*
September

59.
51.
60.

63,
58.
62,

69.8
74.1
72.1

82 6
83 7
82 6

October
Novembe r........
December

60.5
73.8
72.1

73.8
75.3
79.7

77,
82.
83.1

81 t
81. 1
80 8

January
February.*
March

69.8
70.3
70.1

80.
80.
75.

85.5
79.9
77.9

80.5
79.1
77.6

April
May
June

62.8
56.4
67.2

67.
63.
62.

68
67,
59,

78
80
82

July
August. .
Sep tember

54,
51,
57.

57.
49.
58.

61
74,
77,

82.
77,
75,

October
November
December

70,
80.
79.

75.6
85.5
87.2

83,
84,
86,

72.7p
73.Op

Janua ry
February
March

74.1
65.1
62.5

82.3
77.9
60.2p

81 .4p
69.5p

April
May
June

45.lp
47.7p

50.9p

84 .0
85 . 2

1977

1978

1979

July
Augu st
Sep tembe r
Oc t ober
Novembe r
De cenber.
' Number of employees, seasonally adjusted, on payrolls of 172 private nonagricultural industries,
p - preliminary.




U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
WASHINOfON.D£. MSM
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
rCNALTV PON MMVATK




FIRST CLASS MAIL
POSTAGE AMO FCCS PAID
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
LAB 441